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The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

pluralistic.net

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Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#681

Post by christophilus »

yupper32 wrote: post #212

I used to like being able to control everything about my machine. I'd spend hours hacking away at making my Linux distro just the way I'd like it, and fixing things when they broke, figuring out drivers and oddities. This laptop seems to have the same culture. Now I just buy a MacBook and the concept of "things breaking" and "having to fix my computer" just isn't a thing anymore.

I bought a Dell and put Fedora on it, and it’s been as stable (maybe more) as my Macs. You don’t have to tinker with Linux too much these days to get a decent experience.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#682

Post by yumraj »

ericls wrote: post #611
yumraj wrote: post #470

Has 13" become the default choice these days? I would love everything the same, but with a 15"-16" screen - if anyone from Framework is reading.

The screen size issue can be mitigated by using a better window manager

Not sure how, as it's not just a resolution issue, it's a screen size issue. I use laptop screen as my only screen and don't use an external monitor. So, for me, the size of the screen does matter and 13" is little small for my eyes.

I'm sure if one uses external monitor most of the time, then 13" is more than sufficient.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#683

Post by NotPractical »

alerighi wrote: post #658
NotPractical wrote: post #492

The baseline, preassembled model starts at $1000. Windows 10 Home, quad-core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, a nice 2256x1504 display, thin and light (1.3kg, 11.7" x 9" x 0.6"). Compare that to your other thin and light options at this pricepoint. XPS 13, $1020 * i5 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 1920 x 1200 display * 1.2 kg, 11.6" x 7.8" x 0.6" MacBook Pro: $1300 * M1 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 2560 x 1600 display *…

I disagree. If you configure it, it will cost you a ton of money. The base configuration doesn't have even basic ports. At contrary, today at work we bought for 900 euros (700 without taxes), plus less than 100 euros for an extra 16Gb RAM module, a thinkpad T14, that has all the features of the base model, but with 512Gb SSD, Ethernet directly on the laptop, a better keyboard, a trackpoint, more USB ports, a fingerpr…

> The base configuration doesn't have even basic ports.

The preconfigured model comes with your choice of 4 ports, the options being USB-C, HDMI, microSD, USB-A, and DisplayPort. The default config is 4x USB-C, but you get to choose.

> a fingerprint reader

Framework has that too.

Anyway, as far as I understand, if you configure it yourself, it will actually cost less money. This is the cost of the preassembled version, but for example, you could buy the "DIY edition" with everything that the preassembled model has, just without Windows, for $909 (~775 euros). The price drops even further if you remove the SSD, RAM, or Wi-Fi module and buy your own.

I understand that everyone has their own priorities when it comes to a laptop. I'm only comparing laptops within the "thin and light" category here. At 1.5kg, 13" x 9" x 0.7", the ThinkPad T14 probably falls into this category, but it is slightly heavier and bulkier than the options I listed. One of my top priorities is thin/light, but I understand those more concerned about performance or # of ports and Ethernet connectivity.

Additionally, I like this company's dedication towards right to repair, and buying the laptop supports them. It's a huge bonus that the laptop has competitive specs, though.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#684

Post by glandium »

nomel wrote: post #423
paxys wrote: post #407

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The modular port is a universal port with dongles. Except that (1) it doesn't take extra space outside of your computer, (2) it is cheaper than mainstream dongles (Apple sells USB-C to HDMI for $70 while the Framework HDMI expansion is $20), and (3) it is fully open source and you can actually print/sell your own.

> Apple sells USB-C to HDMI for $70 Luckily, USB-C means you don't have to buy any accessory from Apple, and have the world of low cost peripherals at your disposal, like the $13 version on Amazon [1]. 1. https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/re...

The main downside is that you don't know what you get on Amazon (and I say that as someone who bought DisplayPort cables on Amazon that turned out to have the pin 20 problem http://monitorinsider.com/displayport/dp_pin20_controversy.h...).

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#685

Post by MayorMonty »

Sebb767 wrote: post #654

I find it kind of strange that they don't have a dual-usb c card. There seems to be more than enough space and putting two usb c ports on a single card would allow to carry a wider variety of cards without loosing out on standard ports. Is this possibly because of charging? It seems like such an easy and obvious thing to do.

From what I read, it was because they couldn't fit the charging circuitry for both into the dongle. Better to not deal with the confusion of one not charging

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#686

Post by makeitdouble »

tailspin2019 wrote: post #589
NotPractical wrote: post #492

The baseline, preassembled model starts at $1000. Windows 10 Home, quad-core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, a nice 2256x1504 display, thin and light (1.3kg, 11.7" x 9" x 0.6"). Compare that to your other thin and light options at this pricepoint. XPS 13, $1020 * i5 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 1920 x 1200 display * 1.2 kg, 11.6" x 7.8" x 0.6" MacBook Pro: $1300 * M1 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 2560 x 1600 display *…

It would be a no-brainier if Macs were still on Intel. But post M1, I’m not so sure… The Air gives this thing a run for its money at a (albeit $21) lower price. That said, I’m 100% behind the Framework concept though - I like the direction they’re heading in. If I needed a Linux/Windows laptop it would be a serious contender for me.

As a hardware nerd and standard laptop user I love the M1.

As a dev, I feel it's not ready yet on the software support side. It will eventually come, but if we follow the "don't buy now on the promise of future updates" principle, right now not being on AMD/Intel is a downside.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#688

Post by eikenberry »

pavon wrote: post #644
kzrdude wrote: post #494

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Their modular ports use a lot of space, they could have much more ports built in, unfortunately.

Yeah, being limited to only 4 ports is a complete non-starter for me especially when you are required to use one of them to charge the laptop. So practically everybody is going to end up filling one of those modular ports with a USB-C module, when they could have easily fit two dedicated USB-C ports in the same space, with no practical loss in expandability.

With them being modular, if what you say is true space wise, then I'd expect there to be a module with 2 ports in it eventually.

Re: The Framework is the most exciting laptop I've used

#690

Post by lostmsu »

ekianjo wrote: post #638
NotPractical wrote: post #492

The baseline, preassembled model starts at $1000. Windows 10 Home, quad-core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, a nice 2256x1504 display, thin and light (1.3kg, 11.7" x 9" x 0.6"). Compare that to your other thin and light options at this pricepoint. XPS 13, $1020 * i5 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 1920 x 1200 display * 1.2 kg, 11.6" x 7.8" x 0.6" MacBook Pro: $1300 * M1 * 8 GB RAM * 256 GB storage * 2560 x 1600 display *…

You forgot the used market. The used market for framework laptops is nil.

Wouldn't you just replace motherboard + CPU to upgrade? No need to sell it.
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